Machine for applying stamps, labels, and the like



W. E. MOLINS MACHINE FOR APPLYING STAMPS, LABELS, AND THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 MACHINE FOR APPLYING STAMPS, LABELS, AND THE LIKE I I I ll r-- I I m |ul Q !h 1 i 51 29 27a 27 INVENTOP W25. waazrmvw Dec. 6, 1927. 1,652,040

W. E. MOLINS MACHINE FOR APPLYING STAMPS, LABELS, AND THE LIKE IIYVE'NTGF Dec. 6, 1927. 1,652,040

' w. E. MOLINS MACHINE FOR APPLYING STAMPS, LABELS, AND THE LIKE Filed March 6, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 was p... 5.1927.

TUNlTE D STATES} PATENT OFFICE.

wanna nvnaar'r roLrNsor LONDON, ENGLAND.

momma FOR APrnYINe srmrs, asers, AND THE LIKE.

Application filed larch 6, 1923, Serial No. 823,264, and in Great Britainlpril 3, 1922.

This invention relates to an improved ma. chine for applying like, to a series thereto.

Machines are already known-in which stamps are cut from a sheet or strip or fed singl and delivered to a gumming or damping evice and then pressed on to the packets, the latter being fed continuously to the machine in some cases.

The present invention consists in the provision of improved'means fordealing with the stamp or the like after same has been 'delivered to the machine whereby the stamp is supplied with adhesive .and pressed on a packet without checking thetravel of the packet through the machine.

Any suitable known feeding means may be "employed for" feeding the stamps contin- 90 uously to the machine from a magazine.

packets or the like fed For example the stamps may be supplied to the machine singly from a magazine and 'fed therefrom by a suction feed device or they may be supplied in a continuous strip and cut therefrom by a suitable cutting device.

The articles are fed continuously to the machine in any desired manner and a drying apparatus may be combined with the 80 machine to dry the stamps after application to the articles.

The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, adapted for use in applying stamps to or over the ends of cigarette or tobacco 35 packets and a machine suitable for this purpose will now be described, but it will be understood that the machine may be used for applying stamps. labels, or the like to articles other than those specified.

To enable the invention to be fully understood it will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are views of packets showing the forms of stamp applied thereto. and Fig. 3 is a part sectional side elevation of one form of a machine adapted to apply the stamp shown in Fig. 1 constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of a detail of the gumming roller and stamp drum of the machineshown in Fig. 3;

stamps, labels and the Fig. 3 is a part sectionalfside elevation drawn to a larger scale of aportion of Fig. 3 showing a stamp being delivered,- the gum wheel an parts being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with, the parts in a'difi'erent position;

Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 3";

Fig. 3 is a'plan view of a detail showing the mounting of the suction tubes;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the stamping channel thereof;

.Figs. 4 and 4 are details of the method of delivering the stamp to the stamp drum;

Figs. 5 and 6 are plan and elevation respectlvely of a detail of the machine, and

Figs. and 8 are views illustrating the application of thestamp to the packet. v

Fig. 9 is a back view of the machine shown in Fig. 3,- showing the feeding driving and cut out gear used.

Fig. 9 is a view of a detail showing the cam for operating the detector mechanism;

Fig. 10-is a view showing a method of operating a heater plate.

As shown in Fig. 3 the machine illustrated is adapted to operate on stamps drawn one by one from a pile in a magazine and fed to the machine by a suction device, but it will be understood that the method of feeding the stamps to the machine is not an essential part of the present invention, since thestamps might be cut from a continuous strip.

In the present example, the stamps are piled in a magazine .56 and are withdrawn one at a time by a suction tube 57 connected by a flexible pipe 57 with an exhauster 94 on the back of the machine (Fig. 9) and delivered to a rotating feed roller 58 provided with a projecting pin 58 which engages the back end of a stamp R as best shown in Figures 4 and 4.

An oscillating roller 59 on one arm of a bell crank lever 60 makes contact with the feed roller at the correct time and feeds the stamp down on to the drum 27.

As shown in Fig. 3 the circumferentially slotted drum 27 is formed with slots 26. the portions between the slots having small notches 28 for holding the forward edges of the stamps, forming a comb across the drum..

Guards 27 are arran ed around a portion of the circumference of the drum 27 and a rooved gumming roller 29 rotating in a et-h 30 and having an adjustable scraper 31 is arran ed so that the flanges of the grooves drum 27 and therefore do not apply gum unless the grooves are covered by a stamp.

The oscillating roller 59 on one arm of the bell crank lever 60 makes contact with the feed roller 58 at the correct time and feeds the stamp down on to the drum 27 Figures 3 and 3), the guard 61 keeping tie stamp in its proper track. The stamp is thus held by. the pro'ecting in 58 on the roller 58 and by the note cs 28 on the drum 27. This feeding operation is shown in Figures 4 and 4 The suction tubes 57 are linked to the other armof the bellcrank lever 60 by a link 100 and the lever is attached to a spindle 60 passing through the machine frame. The tubes 57 are also linked to a pin 101 on the frame about which they oscillate, (Fig. 3). The spindle 60 is rocked by a lever 92 and roller 92 engaging a'cam 91 on the spindle 120 of feed roller 58 at the back of the machine (Figs. 3 and 9), so operating the suction tubes 57 and roller 59 through the bell crank lever 60. A spring (13 (Fig. 3") returns the linkwork and stop screw 03 is provided for limiting the up position of the suction tubes.

On one side of the stamp drum 27 is a spindle 62 carrying two cams 62, 63. A bell crank lever 64 pivoted at 65 carries a roller 66 which engages cam 62 under the action of a spring 67. The lever 64 is grooved and a stamp finger 68 slides therein Fig. 5). The forward end 68 of the nger 68 is slotted to pass into the slots in the stamp drum 27 and has depending portions is. The finger is reciprocated hori zontally by a fork 69 pivoted at 70 engaging a pin 71 on the finger and engaging the cam 63 (Fig. 3). A tension spring 72 returns the finger to its normal position. The bell crank lever 64 is also provided with a depending portion m.

The packetsc are delivered from a packeting machine or by hand to a plate 53, arranged adjacent to conveying chains 47 driven by sprockets 49 and supported on idlers 50, 51, the chains carrying conveyor pieces 48. The plate 53 is cut away to allow a piece 48 to pass through same carrying a packet with'it. The conveyor pieces 48 are pivotally mounted on the chains and the portion 48 is supported on a guide rail 53 during their travel on the upper side of the engages the spindle 104 of sprocket wheel 50.

A cam 87 is mounted on the spindle 104 (Fig. 9"). A spring 107 pulls lever 106 downwards. The cam 87 en ages a roller 108 on the lever. When a pac et is beneath the plate 73 no movement of the lever occurs, since the latter cannot fall as the plate is supported by the packet. As the packet leaves the plate 73 for stamping the high part of the cam 87 still prevents movement of the lever. A stamp has to travel some distance from the magazine to the acket stamping position and the time taken or this journey is the same as that taken by a packet travelling from the detector to the stamping position. The cam 87 'is so arranged that it prevents movement of the lever 106 during the travel of a packet from the detector to the stamping position. If at the moment when a packet arrives at the stamping position a succeeding packet has not engaged the detector, the recessed portion of the cam 87 will be beneath the roller 108 and since the plate 73 is unsupported, it will drop, the roller 108 falling into the recessed portion of the cam. The lever 106 is connected by a link 108 to a relief valve 94 on the exhaustcr 94, so that when the lever 106 and roller 107 fall the link 108 is operated to open the valve 94. This breaks the vacuum in the exhauster and so breaks the suction at the stamp feeding device and prevents the feeding of a stamp.

-After passing the detector 73, the packet passes beneath a plate 7 3 attached to the underside of the gum bath 30 and into the stamping channel over the plate 53 and beneath the stamping mechanism. The sides 53 ,53", of this channel are yielding and held in position by screws passing through spacing washers and into the edges of plate 53 so that they touch the sides of the Packet as it receives the stamp (Fig. 3). The packet is carried into the channel 53 under the drum 27 and a gummed stamp'o is delivered on to the centre of the end of the packet so that it overlaps, (iFig. 1).

As it is applie the finger 68 descends through the slots in drum 27 removing the stam and dropping thereon as shown in Fig. the depending portion 7a of said finger pressing the projecting end of the stamp against the leading side of the packet r,

ide

ro'cating motion: to] ressthe stamp fi'rm against the side it e packet.

,At the. same me 'the end at of the bell crank le'ver 64 is dealing with the rear end" of a 'stampon the packet a'(Fig.'-7

- on the top of the 48 turn over,

The packet r is'still being 'move by th conveyor piece, but packet s is stationar and consequently the packets close up ass own in. 8- i I The finger .68 is then moved back by its cam and slotted link 'andclears the newly stamped packet. When this occurstthe bell crank lever 64 is lifted u r comes into contact wit 8 thus holdin theistamps in osition until'they are drie The bell cran '64 and finger 68 descend again with the end'm of lever 64-. touching the rear of packet r and the finger 68 en.- ga in the stamp of a freshpacket;

the leading end 0 the stamp '0 against the leading side ofthe packet, the prev1ous packet being operated on and finished by. the lever .6 v 1 The sealed and stamped packet passes on and at the point where the conveyor pieces spring clips 74 (Fig. 3) are provided for holding upthe packet as the conveyor piece leaves it.

By the time the lever 64 and finger 68 have finished a packet and become disengaged therefromanother packet is almost in position to be operated-on. Thus a group of packets as at 7 5' is always in the channel, and is constantly moved forward as a new packet arrives. at the-stamping position.

As the packets move up the channel the tops of the packets and the stamps are controlled by a narrow strip 76 which is either screwed to the frame, as at 77 or carried by the stamp guide, as shownin chain lines at 78. The lower part of the bell chanklever 64 is recessed to avoid interference with the strip'76.

The stamped ackets then pass beneath the plate 95 heate by electric or other means at 96 and the dried packets are removed from the end of the channeL- Preferably the plate 95 is pivoted on a pin 97 at the back of the machine frame and actuated by, a cam 98 and lever 99 (Fi 10). It is thus moved up and down in suh manner that the plate is up when the packets are moved along by the entry of another packet into the channel.

The machine may be driven by any suitable means and as here shown the drive is applied to the spindle 104 of sprocket wheel 50 and on the spindle at the back of the machine a sprocket wheel 110 is fixed which is geared by a chain 111 to sprocket wheels 112, 113, 114, respectively on the spindles of the stamp drum 27, gum wheel 29, and

'en of the andthe packet N, 7

described may ig. 8 the finger 68 is shown restin'g ackctvand about to press sindle 62'. I The stam feed roller lib is r ven by a gear whee 115 on its spindle r h 120 gearing with a wheel on the spindle of the stamp: drum 27.? The exhauster 94 is drivenas shownby an eccentric 94 on the spindle 120,.-'An id1er 121 provided for taking up" the slack in the chain, Ob.- viously thevarious spindles by toothed gearing if-desired. It will be understood that the machine ma be used to apply a stamp across the packet and down over one of the ad acent sies only. 7 v

Further, machines such as hereinbefore be arranged to apply stamps in-any desired position on the packets and may be driven to operate with any suitable knownformof delivery means for the stamps.

Having thus described the nature of my I said invention and the best means I know'of carrying the same into practical effect, I

claim: I

1. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a maga-f zine, means. for delivering a stamp from the magazine, 'a'circumferentially slotted rotary member for receiving the stamp having means for positively holding the stamp thereon against slipping and a gumming roller having projections fitting into the slots of therotary member for applying adhesive to-the stamp thereon.

2. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a magazine, means for-delivering a stamp from the magazine, a circumferentially slotted rotary member for receiving the stamp said member having notched portions between the slots for positively engaging one edge of the stamp, and a gumming roller having projections fitting into the slots of the rotary member for applying adhesive to the. stamp thereon.

3. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a magazine, means for delivering a stamp from the magazine, a-circumferentially slotted rotary member for receiving the stamp said member having notched portions between the slots for positively engaging one edge of the stamp, a gumming roller having project-ions fitting into the slots of the rotary member for applying adhesive to the stamp thereon and means for removing the gummed stamp from the rotary member andp'ressing it on the desired article. I

'4. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a magazine, means for delivering a stamp from the magazine, a circumferentially slotted drum for receiving the stamp, a feed roller for delivering the stamp on to the drum, a pin on the feed roller for engaging one edge'of the stamp, a gumming roller having projections fitting into-the slots of the drum for applying adhesive to the stamp on thedrum and means for removing the gummed stamp from the drum and pressing it on a desired article.

5. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a magazine, means for delivering a stamp from the magazine, a circumferentially slotted drum for receiving the stamp, a gumming roller having projections fitting into the slots of the drum for applying adhesive to the stamp and means for removing the gummed stamp from the drum and applying it to the end of packet and over two opposite sides thereof.

6. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a magazine, means for delivering a stamp from the magazine, a circumferentially slotted drum for receiving the stamp, a gumming roller having projections fitting into the slots of the drum for applying adhesive to the stamp on the drum, a slotted presser finger having a depending portion and means for reciprocating the finger through the slots in the drum to detach a gummed stamp and to press same into contact with a packet across the -end and down one of the two opposite sides and a second reciprocating presser finger having a depending portion for pressing the stamp into contact with the other opposite side of the packet.

7. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a magazine, means for delivering a stamp from the magazine, a circumterentially slotted drum for receiving the stamp, means for pressing each stamp on to the drum as it is received from the magazine, a gumming roller having projections fitting into the slots of the drum for applying adhesive to the stamp on the drum, a slotted presser finger having a depending portion and means for reciprocating the finger through the slots in the drum, to detach a gummed stamp and to press same into contact with a packet across the end and down one of the two opposite sides thereof and a second reciprocating presser finger having a depending portion for pressing the stamp into contact with the other opposite side of the packet. Y

8. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a magazine adapted to contain a pile of stamps, suction means for delivering a stamp from the magazine, a circumferentially slotted rotary member for receiving the stamp having notched portions between the slots for positivly engaging one edge of the stamp and a gumming roller having projections fitting into the slots of the rotary member for applying adhesive to the stamp thereon.

9. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a magazine adapted to contain a pile of stamps, suction means for delivering a stamp from the magazine, a circumferentially slotted rogumming roller having projections fitting into the slots of the rotary member for applying adhesive to the stamp thereon and means for removing the gummed stamp from the rotary member and pressing it on a de-- sired article.

10. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a magazine adapted to contain a pile of stamps, suction means for delivering a stamp from the magazine, a circumferentially slotted drum for receiving the stamp, a gumming roller having projections fitting into the slots of the drum for applying adhesive to the stamp on the drum, a slotted presser finger havmg a depending portion and means for reci rocating the finger through the slots in t e drum, to detach a gummed stamp and to press same into contact with a packet across the end and down one of the two opposite sides thereof and a second reciprocating presser finger having a depending port-ion for pressing the stamp into contact with the other opposite side of the packet.

11. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a magazine adapted to contain a pile of stamps, suction means for delivering a stamp from the magazine, a circumferentially slotted 1 drum for receiving the stamp, means for pressing each stamp on to the drum as it is received from the magazine, a gumming roller having projections fitting into the slots of the drum for applying adhesive to the stamp on the drum and a slotted presser finger having a depending portion and means for reciprocating the finger through the slots in the drum, to detach a gummed stamp and to press same into contact with a packet across the end and down one of the two opposite sides therecf and a second reciprocating presser finger having a depending portion for pressing the stamp into contact with the other opposite side of the packet.

12. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a magazine, means for delivering a stamp from the magazine, a circumferentially slotted drum for receiving the stamp, a gumming roller having projections fitting into the slots of the drum for applying adhesive to the stamp on the drum, an endless conveyor for carrying packets into and out of the stamping position and a discharge channel having a heated wall.

13. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a magazine, means for delivering a stamp from the magazine, a circumferentially slotted drum. for receiving the stamp, a gumming roller -the finger through the slots in stamping position having projections fitting into the slots of the drum, a slotted presser finger having a depending portion, means for reciprocating the drum, a second reciprocating presser finger having a depending portion, an endless conveyor for carrying packets into and out of the for the conveyor.

14. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a magazine, means for delivering a stamp from the magazine, a circumferentially slotted drum for receiving the stam having projections fittlng into the slots of the drum, means for removing a gummed stamp from the drum and applying it to a packet, an endless conveyor for carrying packets and means operated by the passage of a packet to be stamped for stopping the feed of a stamp unless a packet is in the stamping position.

15. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a magazine, means fordelivering a stamp from the magazine, a circumferentially slotted drum and a discharge channel.

a gumming roller for receiving the stamp, a-gumming roller having projections fitting into the slots of the drum for applying adhesive to the stamp on the drum, an endless conveyor for carrying packets into and out of the stamping position, a discharge channel having a heated wall and means for raising and lowering the heated wall as packets are passed into the channel.

16. In an automatic machine for applying stamps and labels in combination, a magazine adapted to contain a pile of stamps, suction means for delivering a stamp from the magazine, a rotating feed roller for receiving the stamps'from the suction means, a pin on said roller engaging the back end of a stamp, a circumferentially' slotted drum for receiving the stamp, a gumming roller having projections fitting into the slots of the drum, means for removing a gummed stamp from the drum and applying it to a packet, and an endless belt conveyor for packets to be stamped.

In testimony whereof I have signed my lo name to this specification.

WALTER EVERETT MOLIN S. 

